The drunken, hilarious storylines of the eccentric waitstaffs at Lisa Vanderpump’s restaurants, as they attempted to navigate their relationships and the perils of La La Land, have been Bravo staples for many years now. But it wasn’t until 2020 and all its pandemonium that Vanderpump Rules made some distinct changes. They dropped their controversial figures and, then, show veteran Jax Taylor decided to exit as a cast member, along with wife Brittany Cartwright. It was a shocking move to fans but, apparently, Taylor is glad he’s no longer part of Vanderpump Rules.
Jax Taylor was on the show since its inception in 2013 and quickly became notorious for his brash nature and playboy tendencies. But in his interview with the Daddy Issues podcast, the reality TV alum implied that not all was what it seemed on Vanderpump Rules, saying about his exit:
I was very fortunate to be on that show. I was very successful on it, and I made a great living, but man, it took a toll on my mental health. I cannot tell you how happy I am not to be part of that show anymore. It’s weight that’s lifted off me that I don’t have to be that person. There’s no pressure to put on a good show so I get a paycheck on Friday. There’s no pressure.
The persona that Jax Taylor claims to have “put on” while filming Vanderpump Rules was one of a "bad guy," so to speak. Stealing and lying were just the tip of the iceberg. There was a particular sequence of events that even had Taylor admitting to then-girlfriend Stassi Schroeder that he cheated on her with another castmate (and her best friend at the time), Kristen Doute. One could say, without these wild moments, the show probably wouldn't be as popular amongst Bravo fans.
Stassi Schroeder and Kristen Doute were both fired from the show last year following the accusations that the two bullied their former castmate, Faith Stowers. Jax Taylor also had a role in that controversy but was not fired alongside the two. Former Vanderpump Rules star Billie Lee recently commented that the producers of the show would essentially ignore Taylor’s ways, even though he was “difficult to work with” and allegedly on drugs. For his part, Taylor claims that he said “a lot of bullshit” while on Vanderpump Rules and was caught in “so many lies” but that it was just a way to play up the drama. He said:
I painted a picture of myself that wasn’t 100 percent true, and I paid for it.
With Jax Taylor and Brittany Cartwright’s exit and almost a third of the cast fired for controversy last year, it is unclear what the future of Vanderpump Rules will look like. Filming for Season 9 has been consistently put off due to covid-19 restrictions but, as it stands, they may only have alums Scheana Shay, the Toms, and a few others to hold down the fort. It's likely that more new blood will need to be brought in for next season, if it happens at all.
Jax Taylor may be glad that he’s no longer part of Vanderpump Rules and seems to be recovering from his time as the show's "bad guy." But let's also hope the countless women and friends who were also affected by his on-air antics are also getting a chance to move on as well.
